2002-06-21 04:00:00 PDT Pittsburgh -- In a series that opens in Cincinnati tonight, the A's will play the Reds for the first time since the 1990 World Series.

A's outfielder/DH David Justice was at that '90 World Series -- rooting for the Reds. "I was there, and I was happy," Justice said. "The Reds have always been my favorite team."

A Cincinnati native, Justice is still such a fan that he checks the Reds' boxscore first thing every morning. He said he likes the makeup of this year's club and thinks the Reds will be fine when Ken Griffey Jr. -- a player Justice has known since Griffey Jr. was 16 -- is fully recovered from injury.

However, Justice never wanted to play for the Reds, and he pointed to Griffey's struggles there as an example why. "It's tough playing at home," Justice said, shaking his head.

MISCELLANY: Shortstop Miguel Tejada is tickled at fellow Dominican Republic native Luis Castillo's 34-game hitting streak. "He's good," said Tejada, who plays against Castillo during the winter. "He's a switch-hitter and he can bunt, so he can get a lot of hits. I'd like to get a base hit every game." . . . Manager Art Howe said that second baseman Randy Velarde tweaked his hamstring trying to score on Sunday against the Giants, but that Velarde had been available to pinch-hit Wednesday. Velarde, who did some sprints under the eye of strength coach Clarence Cockrell before the game, said he was fine and just trying to stay in shape because he hasn't been playing every day.